强颜欢笑
qiǎng yán huān xiào
to force a smile; to put on a brave face
Character by character
强qiǎng
force
force
颜yán
face
face
欢huān
joyful
joyful
笑xiào
smile
smile
Example
失业以后，他在孩子面前强颜欢笑，晚上却一个人坐在阳台上发呆。
After losing his job he put on a cheerful face in front of the children, but at night he sat alone on the balcony staring into space.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
强 is qiǎng here, to force oneself, not qiáng. It describes hiding sorrow behind a smile, usually with 在…面前 or 在人前, and it invites sympathy rather than blame.
Learn this in Lesson 162 · HSK 7–9: 抑郁症不是矫情 (Depression is not oversensitivity)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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